[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42748-42751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20142]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Opportunity To Participate, Criteria Requirements and 
Change of Application Procedure for Participation in the Military 
Airport Program (MAP)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of criteria and application procedure for designation or 
re-designation, for the Fiscal year 1999 and 2000 Military Airport 
Program (MAP), based on current and proposed legislation.

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[[Page 42749]]

SUMMARY: This notice announces the criteria, application procedures and 
schedule to be applied by the Secretary of Transportation in 
designating, re-designating, and funding capital development for 
currently up to 12 and potentially more airports in the MAP. Pending 
re-authorizing legislation may permit more airports to be designated 
and funded in future fiscal years. Once an authorization is enacted, 
the FAA may, if necessary, issue a new notice clarifying any change in 
the program including criteria and eligibility.
    The MAP allows the Secretary to designate current or former 
military airports for which grants may be made under the Airport 
Improvement Program (AIP) and which airports, when at least partly 
converted to civilian commercial or reliever airports as part of the 
national air transportation system, will enhance airport and air 
traffic control system capacity in major metropolitan areas or reduce 
current and projected flight delays. The Secretary is authorized to 
designate an airport only if:
    (1) the airport is a former military installation closed or 
realigned under--
    (A) Title 10 U.S.C. 2687.
    (B) Section 201 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base 
Closure and Realignment Act (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
    (C) Section 2905 of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 
1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
    (2) the Secretary determines that AIP grants at such airport 
would--
    (A) reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of 
annual delays in a commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings; 
or
    (B) enhance airport and air traffic control system capacity in a 
metropolitan area or reduce current and projected flight delays.

49 U.S.C. 47118

DATES: Airport sponsors should address written applications for new 
designation and re-designation in the Military Airport Program to the 
Federal Aviation Administration Regional Airports Division or Airports 
District Office that serves the airport. That office of the FAA must 
receive applications on or before September 7, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and two copies of Standard Form (SF) 424, 
``Application for Federal Assistance,'', http://www.whitehouse.OMB/
grants/index.html, and supporting and justifying documentation 
specifically requesting to be considered for designation or re-
designation to participate in the Military Airport Program, to the 
Regional FAA Airports Division or Airports District Office that serves 
the airport. Applicants may find the proper office on the FAA website 
http://www.faa.gov/arp/arphome.htm or contact the office below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James V. Mottley 
([email protected]) or Leonard C. Sandelli ([email protected]), 
Military Airport Program Branch (APP-420), Office of Airport Planning 
and Programming, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 800 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591, (202) 267-8780, or (202) 
267-8785, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Description of the Program

    The Military Airport Program provides capital development 
assistance to civil airport sponsors at designated current (joint-use) 
military airfields or former military airports in converting to civil 
use. Airports designated under the program may obtain funds from a set-
aside (currently four percent) of AIP discretionary funds to undertake 
eligible airport development, including certain types of projects not 
otherwise eligible for AIP assistance.
    Once an authorization is enacted by Congress, the FAA may, if 
necessary, issue a new notice clarifying any change in the program 
including criteria and eligibility and solicit applicants.

Number of Airports

    Currently, a maximum of 12 airports can participate in the MAP. 
There are eleven airports currently designated and the Secretary can 
designate one more under the current FAA authorization. Future FAA 
authorization legislation may permit additional designations from 
applications submitted pursuant to this notice. If increased, the 
Secretary may designate additional airports based on applications 
submitted pursuant to this notice, or subsequent notices.

Amount of MAP Funds

    Currently all of the 1999 MAP funds have been allocated to the 
participating airports. Any airport designated to MAP during FY 1999 
will not be funded until FY 2000, pending FAA authorizing legislation. 
Funding after FY 1999 will be based on FY 2000 authorization and 
obligation authority levels.

Term of Designation

    Five years is the maximum period of eligibility, unless modified by 
legislation, for any airport to participate in the MAP unless an 
airport sponsor reapplies and is re-designated. Periods of 
redesignation for periods of less than five years are being considered 
in authorizing legislation.

Reapplication

    49 U.S.C. 47118(d) permits previously designated airports to apply 
for re-designation. The airport must have MAP eligible projects and 
must continue to satisfy the designation criteria for the MAP.

Eligible Projects

    In addition to other eligible AIP projects, terminals, fuel farms, 
utility systems, surface parking lots and hangars are eligible to be 
funded from the MAP. Cargo facilities up to 50,000 square feet are 
being considered in proposed FAA authorizing legislation. Airports 
requiring these facilities should consider including any cargo building 
requirements in project justifications and airport capital development 
plan (ACIP) portions of the application.

New Designation and Re-designation Considerations

    In making designations of new candidate airports, the Secretary of 
Transportation will consider the following general requirements:
    1. The airport is a Department of Defense (DOD) Base Realignment 
and Closure (BRAC) closing military airfield or 10 USC 2687 closure or 
realignment, classified as a commercial service or reliever airport in 
the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Pending FAA 
authorizing legislation may allow DOD BRAC or 10 USC 2687 closing and 
realignment airports classified as general aviation (GA) in the NPIAS 
to participate in the MAP, so airports meeting other eligibility 
requirements and categorized as GA, should apply; or
    2. The airport and grants issued for projects at the airport would 
reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of annual 
delays in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings. Airports 
with 20,000 or more hours of delay and their associated metropolitan 
areas are identified in the FAA's Aviation Capacity Enhancement Plan 
DOT/FAA, Office of System Capacity, 1998 Aviation Capacity Enhancement 
Plan; or
    3. The airport would enhance airport and air traffic control, 
system capacity in a metropolitan area or reduce current or projected 
flight delays.
    The application will be evaluated on how the proposed airport and 
associated projects would make these contributions to congestion relief 
and/or how the airport would enhance air traffic or airport system 
capacity, and provide adequate user services.

[[Page 42750]]

Project Evaluation

    Recently approved BRAC or Title 10 U.S.C. 2678 closing or realigned 
bases or active bases with new joint use agreements will be the 
locations with the greatest conversion needs, necessary to achieve a 
successful civil airport operation. New joint use locations and newly 
converting airports frequently have minimum capital development 
resources and will receive priority consideration for designation and 
MAP funding. The FAA will evaluate the need for the eligible projects 
in the candidate airport's five year ACIP, and whether these projects 
are related to development of that airport and/or air traffic system. 
It is the intent of the Secretary of Transportation to fund those 
airports where the benefits to the capacity of the air traffic control 
or airport system can be maximized, and/or the contribution to reducing 
congestion can be maximized.
    1. The FAA will evaluate the candidate airports and/or the airports 
such candidates would relieve based on the following factors:
     Compatibility of airport roles, and the ability of the 
airport to provide an adequate airport facility;
     The capability of the candidate airport and its airside 
and landside complex to serve aircraft that otherwise must use the 
relieved airport;
     Landside surface access;
     Airport operational capability, including peak hour and 
annual throughput capacities of the candidate airport;
     Potential of other metropolitan area airports to relieve 
the congested airport;
     Ability to satisfy, relieve or meet air cargo demand 
within the metropolitan area;
     Forecasted aircraft and passenger levels, type of air 
carrier service anticipated, i.e., scheduled and/or charter air carrier 
service;
     Type and capacity of aircraft projected to serve the 
airport and level of operation at the relieved airport and the 
candidate airport;
     The potential for the candidate airport to be served by 
aircraft or users, including the airlines, serving the congested 
airport;
     Ability to replace an existing commercial service or 
reliever airport serving the area; and
     Any other documentation to support the FAA designation of 
the candidate airport.
    2. The FAA will evaluate the development needs, which, if funded, 
would make the airport a viable civil airport that will enhance system 
capacity or reduce delays. Newly closing installations or airport 
sponsors with new joint use agreements with existing military aviation 
facilities will be strongly considered for designation since they tend 
to have the greatest conversion needs.

Application Procedures and Required Documentation

    Airport sponsors applying for consideration for designation or 
Redesignation must complete a Standard Form 424, ``Application for 
Federal Assistance,'' and submit documentation to the appropriate FAA 
office as outlined below. They must submit an Application for Federal 
Assistance, SF 424, to the Airports District Office or FAA Regional 
Airports Division which serves that airport. The SF 424 must indicate 
that this is an initial application or reapplication for the MAP, and 
must be accompanied by the documentation and justification indicated 
below to request designation by the Secretary of Transportation to 
participate in the Military Airport Program.

New Candidate Airports and Airports Applying for Redesignation

    This information must identify the airport as either a current or 
former military airport and identify whether it was:
    1. Closed or realigned under Section 201 of the Defense 
Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act, and/or 
Section 2905 of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 
(Installations Approved for Closure by the Defense Base Realignment and 
Closure Commissions),
    2. 10 U.S.C. 2687 (bases closed by DOD and reported to the General 
Services Administration) or
    3. A joint use of an active military airfield.

A. Qualifications

    For (1) through (6) below the applicant does not need to resubmit 
any unchanged documentation that has been previously submitted to the 
regional Airports division or Airports district office.
    (1) Documentation that the airport meets the definition of a 
``public airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. Sec. 47102(16).
    (2) Documentation that the required environmental review process 
for civil reuse or joint-use of the military airfield has been 
completed. This is not the environmental review for the projects under 
this program, but the environmental review necessary, usually done by 
the military department, for conveyance of airport property, a long-
term lease, or a joint use agreement. The environmental reviews and 
approvals must indicate that the airport would be able to have 
sufficient property rights to meet AIP requirements.
    (3) In the case of a former military airport, documentation that 
the local or State airport sponsor holds or will hold satisfactory 
title, a long term lease in furtherance of conveyance of property for 
airport purposes, or a long term interim lease for 25 years or more, to 
the property on which the civil airport is being located. An 
application for airport property accepted by the Government is 
sufficient, unless there is reason to believe that a long term lease or 
conveyance would be delayed for a long time. The capital development 
project needs to be in place for 20 years. In the case of a current 
military airport, documentation that the airport sponsor has an 
existing joint-use agreement with the military department having 
jurisdiction over the airport. This is necessary so the FAA can legally 
issue grants to the sponsor.
    (4) Documentation that the service level at the airport is expected 
to provide is a ``commercial service airport'' or a ``reliever 
airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(7) and 47102(18), respectively, 
and is included in the current NPIAS. Pending FAA authorization 
legislation may permit designation of some general aviation airports in 
the NPIAS.
    (5) Documentation that the airport has an eligible airport 
``sponsor'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(19).
    (6) Documentation that the airport has an approved airport layout 
plan (ALP) and a five-year ACIP indicating all eligible grant projects 
either seeking to be funded from the MAP or other portions of the AIP. 
The five-year plan must also specifically identify the safety, capacity 
and conversion related projects, associated costs and projected five-
year schedule of project construction, including those requested for 
consideration for MAP funding.
    (7) Information identifying the existing and potential levels of 
visual or instrument operations and aeronautical activity at the 
current or former military airport and, if applicable, the relieved 
airport. Also, if applicable, information on how the airport 
contributes to air traffic system or airport system capacity. If served 
by commercial air carriers, the revenue passenger and cargo levels 
should be provided.
    (8) A description of the projected civil role and development needs 
for transitioning from use as a military airfield to a civil airport 
and how

[[Page 42751]]

development projects would serve to convert the airport to civil use 
and/or reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of 
annual delay in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings 
and/or how the projects would contribute to the airport and air traffic 
control system capacity in a metropolitan area or reduce current or 
projected flight delays.
    (9) A description of the existing airspace capacity. Describe how 
anticipated new operations would affect the surrounding airspace and 
air traffic flow patterns in the metropolitan area in or near which a 
current or former military airport is located. Include a discussion of 
the level to which operations at this airport create airspace conflicts 
that may cause congestion or whether air traffic works into the flow of 
other air traffic in the area.
    (10) A description of the five-year ACIP, including a discussion of 
major projects, their priorities, projected schedule for project 
accomplishment, and estimated costs. Eligible MAP safety, capacity 
related and/or conversion related projects should be specifically 
identified, that are proposes for funding under the MAP.
    (11) A description of projects, that are consistent with the role 
of the airport and effectively contribute to joint use or convert the 
airfield to a civil airport. Projects can be related to various 
improvement categories depending on the need to convert from military 
to civil airport use, to meet required civil airport standards, and/or 
required to provide capacity to the airport and/or airport system. The 
projects selected, i.e., safety related, conversion-related, and 
capacity-related, must be identified and fully explained based on the 
airport's planned use. The sponsor needs to submit the airport layout 
plan (ALP) and other maps or charts that clearly identify and help 
clarify the eligible projects and designate them as safety-related, 
conversion-related, or capacity-related. It should be cross-referenced 
with the project costs and project descriptions. Projects that could be 
eligible under MAP, if needed for conversion-related or capacity-
related purposes, must be clearly indicated, and include:
Airside
     Modification of airport or military airfield for safety 
purposes or airport pavements (including widths), marking, lighting or 
strengthening, and of structures or other features in the airport 
environs to meet civil standards for airport imaginary surfaces.
     Facilities or support facilities such as passenger 
terminal gates, aprons for passenger terminals, taxiways to new 
terminal facilities, aircraft parking, and cargo facilities to 
accommodate civil use.
     Modification of airport or military utilities (electrical 
distribution systems, communications lines, water, sewer, storm 
drainage) to meet civil standards. Also, modifications that allow 
utilities on the civil airport to operate independently, if other 
portions of the base are conveyed to entities other than the airport 
sponsor or retained by the Government.
     Purchase, rehabilitation, or modification of airport and 
support facilities, including aircraft rescue and fire fighting 
buildings and equipment, airport security requirements, lighting 
vaults, and reconfiguration or relocation of buildings for more 
efficient civil airport operations, and snow removal equipment.
     Modification of airport or military airfield fuel systems 
and fuel farms to accommodate civil aviation use.
     Acquisition of additional land for runway protection 
zones, other approach protection, or airport development.
     Cargo facility requirements.
Landside
     Construction of surface parking areas and access roads to 
accommodate automobiles in the airport terminal area and provide an 
adequate level of access to the airport.
     Construction or relocation of access roads to provide 
efficient and convenient movement of vehicular traffic to, on and from 
the airport, including access to passenger, air cargo, fixed base 
operations, and aircraft maintenance areas.
     Modification or construction of facilities such as 
passenger terminals, surface automobile parking, hangars, and access to 
cargo facilities to accommodate civil use.
    (12) An evaluation of the ability of surface transportation 
facilities (road, rail, high speed rail, maritime) to provide 
intermodal connections.
    (13) A description of the type and level of aviation and community 
interest in the civil use of a current or former military airport.
    (14) One copy of the FAA-approved ALP for each copy of the 
application. The ALP or supporting information should clearly show 
capacity and conversion related projects. Also, other information such 
as project costs, schedule, project justification, other maps and 
drawings showing the project locations, and any other supporting 
documentation that would make the application easier to understand 
should be included.

Redesignation of Airports Previously Designated and Applying for up 
to an Additional Five Years in the Program

    Airports applying for redesignation to the Military Airport Program 
need to submit the information required by new candidate airports 
applying for a new designation. On the SF (SF) 424 those airports need 
to indicate that this is an application for redesignation to the MAP. 
In addition to the above information, they need to explain:
    (1) Why a redesignation and additional MAP eligible project funding 
is needed to accomplish the conversion to meet the civil role of the 
airport.
    (2) Why an additional designation is necessary and funding of 
eligible work under other categories of AIP or other sources of funding 
would not accomplish the development needs of the airport,
    (3) Based on the previously funded MAP projects, state why these 
projects and funding level were insufficient to accomplish the airport 
conversion needs and development goals.
    Pending legislation may provide that the airport may be designated 
for a term less than five years.
    This notice is issued pursuant to Title 49 U.S.C. 47118.

    Issued at Washington, DC, on July 30, 1999.
Catherine M. Lang,
Acting Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. 99-20142 Filed 8-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P